Lilac Pruning

What This Service Involves

Lilacs bloom on old wood and set their buds soon after flowering, so pruning at the wrong time will cost you a year of fragrant blossoms. We prune immediately after the spring bloom fades, deadheading spent panicles and removing a portion of the oldest, thickest canes at ground level to renew the shrub over time. Lilacs sucker freely, so we thin those shoots to maintain a manageable, well-shaped plant. Good airflow is important in our humid climate to reduce powdery mildew, which is common on lilac foliage by late summer in the Northwest.

Benefits

Protects next spring's fragrant blooms by pruning right after flowering; Renews aging shrubs by removing the oldest canes over time; Controls suckering to keep the plant tidy and contained; Improves airflow to reduce powdery mildew in the damp PNW; Maintains an open, productive framework of younger stems

Our Process

1) Prune immediately after the spring bloom fades; 2) Deadhead spent flower panicles above emerging buds; 3) Remove a third of the oldest, thickest canes at ground level; 4) Thin excess suckers and crossing stems; 5) Shape the remaining framework and clear debris

What Affects the Cost

Size and age of the lilac and number of old canes; Degree of suckering and overgrowth; Whether staged renewal over multiple seasons is planned; Number of plants; Debris removal

Best Time of Year

In Western Washington, prune lilacs right after they finish blooming in late spring so the plant has all summer to set buds for next year's flowers.